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burnsopale · 10 months

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We need to talk about Childermass

Before the Return of magic to England, there are, as far as we know, only four Englishmen capable of performing acts of magic. Strange and Norrell, Childermass and Vinculus.

Strange and Norrell can do magic at will. They have both the Talent and the Learning necessary, though they approach magic from opposite sides of that spectrum. Most likely, they are able to do magic because they are the instruments of the Raven King's prophecy.

Vinculus has clear magical Talent, but not the Learning (Childermass says this in "The Cards of Marseilles": "You are a strange creature - the very reverse of all the magicians of the last centuries. They were full of learning but had no talent. You have talent and no knowledge."). I count two feats of magic from Vinculus' interactions with the tarot cards. He lays out Childermass' fortune, meaning he can make the cards respond to him; it seems that it would not be enough for a random person to just lay out the cards, you have to have some magical ability to "activate" them, so to speak, to make them actually answer your question. This makes sense, as the Cards of Marseilles were created to be playing cards; they are not inherently magical. Vinculus' other feat of magic is transforming the deck into all Raven Kings. That is a proper feat of magic, but seems to be done in respons to Childermass dismissing him as an agent of the Raven King. I suspect Vinculus can only do magic spontaneously, in moments where he is called on to herald the coming of the Raven King. He is an instrument, not a master.

In this same category, as contrast, we find John Segundus, who has the Talent and eventually the Learning, but who cannot do magic until the Return. During the war in Spain, we get a glimpse into Strange and Segundus' correspondence, where it's clear that Strange has given Segundus all the tools he needs to perform an act of scrying magic, but Segundus cannot make it work. We know that he is one of the most magic-sensitive people in the story, but he cannot master it (and is on the contrary frequently magic's chew toy, poor baby). His example is important because it tells us that for most people, no matter their affinity, magic is simply barred.

Which brings us to Childermass, who just ... doesn't care ... about the rules? He has the Talent and the Learning, and he can do spells at will. Set aside the question of why the fuck Norrell doesn't realise how insane it is that his servant can randomly do magic when no one else can, and how he can call himself England's only magician with a straight face when Childermass is RIGHT THERE. That's a question of characterisation. I'm interested in the fact that Childermass can do magic at all. The other three people capable of doing magic before the Return are all instruments of the Raven King; his prophet and the two men meant to bring the prophecy to fruition.

It seems to me impossible that Childermass should not also be an instrument of the Raven King. Anything else would break the rules of the world Clarke has built. Although to be fair, he breaks those rules already because he is a servant who is not a servant (See that quote about how he will tell a whole room full of admirals and ministers that they're idiots). But what is he? The backup plan? Or is he allowed to practice because someone has to spearhead the Restoration once Strange and Norrell are gone? Explain, Susanna! Explain!

EDIT cause I read a little further: And then fucking Tom Levy comes in in chapter 49 and RUINS EVERYTHING! How can he do magic? Was the "two magicians" thing nonsense all along?? Does this mean anyone can do magic theoretically? Is Mr Segundus simply not trying hard enough? Is magic really gone or is that just what people think? Did Strange start the Return when he travelled through his first mirror? Please say so! I am so upset! What are the rules, Susanna?? Are there even any rules? ARE THERE RULES, SUSANNA?

#Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell #JSMN #JSaMN #John Childermass #HELP #It's no wonder there's so many theories that Childermass IS the Raven King or a child of his or something #Cause he's just hanging out in the background ignoring the worldbuilding rules through the whole story #andalsothey'redescribedsimilarly #and then in comes FUCKING TOM LEVY #HOW??#I need rules Clarke!#Segundus too timid #Didn't put his whole pussy into it

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burnsopale · 10 months

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Childermass & Segundus - it sounds very well

So one day the York Society of Magicians receives a new member, and Childermass is like okay, no big deal, those guys never do anything interesting anyway.

But then, right, then the new guy and one of the old guys writes to Mr Norrell and asks if they may have the pleasure of waiting on him sometime, and Mr Norrell is like "No" but Childermass is like "Actually yes" because he's intrigued, or because the cards have told him something is about to happen, or because Mr Norrell is years overdue to go to London and revive English magic and Childermass figures this might jostle him into doing something. We don't know what exactly happened, but it seems likely that it was Childermass who made the visit possible, because the idea of Mr Norrell ever wanting visitors is impossible to accept.

So these two theoretical magicians come to Hurtfew Abbey, and Childermass is in the library waiting for the visit to end and Norrell to show up and tell him what the men wanted, but instead, when the door opens, there they are, the visitors, having been invited to see the library and what the fuck did they say to old Gilbert to make that happen?? Not that it matters, they're not gonna remember anything by the time they get home, the enchantments will see to that.

Mr Norrell introduces Childermass, and the new guy gives him a look like Childermass facinates him, but Childermass is used to that. He figures he'll just hang out until they leave.

Except the new guy, who is a dark, timid-looking little man named John Segundus, keeps looking around like he can sense the spells lighting the room, keeps looking out the window like he's not happy with the orientation of the walls, keeps blinking like the magic is making him a little dizzy. John Segundus is clearly magic sensitive. No one in the York Society is magic sensitive, Childermass knows that for a fact. This is suddenly intriguing.

So Childermass ends up keeping half an eye on Mr Segundus as he explores, until Mr Segundus notices, sensitive as he is, and their eyes meet. Childermass reads longing, need, delight and confusion on the man's face, but Childermass is without pity; by the time Mr Segundus gets home, he won't remember what he's seen. It doesn't matter; no one in the York Society ever did anything interesting anyway.

But then later, the letter from Dr Foxcastle comes, and Mr Norrell is Upset and Offended, and Childermass realises that the Revival is about to start at last. And because Mr Norrell is fearful and Childermass is pitiless, they send a lawyer with their demands.

Mr Robinson the lawyer returns to Hurtfew a little perplexed. Oh yes, they all signed, just like you said they would, every one of them ... except ... except one. Childermass is a little surprised to discover that the timid little man had a spine after all. Mr Norrell wants Mr Robinson to go back and demand the last signature, but Childermass says "Wait". And at this point, we do not know what he is thinking. Perhaps he simply thinks that they will need someone to write to London once the miracle has been done, and Mr Segundus is more likely to be amiable if he has not just been deprived of his calling. But then, Mr Honeyfoot, the other visitor, would definitely be happy to write, even though he WILL be deprived of that same calling. Perhaps, Childermass thinks that this is a strangely fateful twist, that the one member of the York Society who has an actual talent for magic is the one person who refused to give it up. Maybe he remembers a time when he himself was full of longing for magic, when he could sense it all around him but was unable to grasp it, when he too would get dizzy in Mr Norrell's library. He may not feel pity, but he can be intrigued. He convinces Mr Norrell to let Mr Segundus be.

Childermass laughs inside when John Segundus doesn't recognise him outside the cathedral, but then startles when the man almost recalls after all. He is not supposed to be able to break the enchantment. Thankfully, the moment passes, and after the magic is done, Mr Segundus turns out to be exactly as easy to manipulate as Childermass thought he would be. The polite ones are easy, especially when they are full of need and longing, and keep looking at Childermass like he has the answers they are searching for. Maybe Childermass uses a little bit of magic to persuade the man to write to London, or maybe he just smiles, and waits, and lets John Segundus come to him of his own accord.

Childermass returns to Hurtfew Abbey and says to his master "Go to London. Go now." and because Childermass knows about these things, they go.

And nine years pass in London.

But occasionally during those nine years, Childermass turns his attention to York, to see what timid little John Segundus is up to. Mostly it's not much.

Until Jonathan Strange happens. That he happens at all is rather extraordinary, but how interesting that he should come to seek Mr Norrell on the advice of John Segundus? For sure there are many people with an affinity for magic in England, but how many of them are magicians? Too few, thinks Childermass. How likely is it that two of them should meet at random? He wonders if this is another fated twist.

So he continues to keep half an eye on York, just in case Mr Segundus should discover how to actually grasp the magic that surrounds him. But when Strange returns from the war in Spain, his conversation tells Childermass that even with the learning, even with actual spells to hand, their timid little man in York cannot make the magic work.

John Segundus begins taking on pupils. Childermass keeps it from Mr Norrell. Childermass has been the instrument of many a theoretical magician's destruction, Childermass reads the hearts of men and feels no pity for them, and yet Childermass keeps John Segundus hidden from Mr Norrell. Maybe, just maybe, John Childermass is beginning to feel a little bit of pity after all. He was once the one longing to master the powers that often overpowered him. He too loves magic so much, enough to endure servitude and secrecy to be near it.

But then John Segundus wants to start a school. Well, if he is going to be that silly, then Childermass cannot help him. Mr Norrell finds out, Mr Norrell panics, and he dispatches Childermass to York to put a stop to this evil plan. Business as usual in other words.

Childermass sits quite comfortably on the steps of Starecross when John Segundus comes home. Childermass delivers his message.

"You know me, Sir," he says, completely forgetting that while he has always had half an eye on John Segundus, John Segundus has not seen Childermass for nine years. Maybe, just maybe, Childermass is a little embarrassed at his mistake. But the errand is completed, and Mr Segundus is easy to manipulate, because he is so very gentle and polite.

Childermass may or may not have noticed that he has been manipulated in turn, because he, who has no pity for any man, lets Mr Segundus know that he regrets that the school cannot be, and he is willing to do what he can to keep Mr Segundus' dream from failing entirely. Although of course, he knows that a regular school is not at all the same as a school of magic.

Childermass knows what it's like to long, but he has found, if not the answers to his questions, then at least the tools by which to hunt them down. He can do the magic.

Then Mr Strange and Mr Norrell quarrel.

And then Lady Pole tries to shoot Mr Norrel. The lady walks with one foot in Faerie and one in London, and for a while, so does Childermass. Something is not right with the lady, but Mr Norrell won't tell him what magic he employed to bring her back from the dead. She'll be sent away somewhere where Childermass will have no chance to discover the truth. Unless of course he decides where she goes. Perhaps for instance to one whom Childermass knows will feel the Faerie winds blowing about the lady, someone who will be able to carry on the search for the truth, whether he knows that he's doing Childermass' work or not. Mr Segundus is easy to manipulate.

Childermass recommends to Sir Walter that he send his wife to Starecross in Yorkshire. How fortuitous that the master of that hall has just decided to open a madhouse there. Surely the visions that gave him the idea were entirely coincidental.

Mr Norrell and Childermass quarrel.

Jonathan Strange Returns magic to England. The Raven King returns to England and rewrites his book.

Mr Norrell and Mr Strange disappear into Faerie.

Suddenly, Childermass is the most experienced magician in England. No one has read as much, has practiced as much, or knows the spells he knows.

But he thinks that there is one man who will not be far behind him in achieving similar results. And maybe Childermass wonders sometimes if it was not all meant to be this way, that it was fate, that he himself was meant to come out on the other side as a student of the two great modern magicians of the age, and that he was meant to bring with him, sheltered under his wing, a dark, timid little man with an extraordinary sensitivity to magic. The books may be gone, but through his instruments, the Raven King has made sure that the new generation of magicians are both capable of and eager to read the magic written on the sky. It will take sensitive men, full of longing, and isn't it fortuitous then, that all those years ago, in the library at Hurtfew Abbey, Childermass recognised another like himself in John Segundus, and decided to keep half an eye on him.

#Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell #John Childermass #John Segundus #My little theory #This is based on the idea that the prophecy is actually the Raven King's plan to return magic to England #In which case Childermass must be the one Uskglass chose to spearhead the Restoration after Strange and Norrell affected the Return #We so often talk about how Segundus sees Childermass #But I am facinated by the other side of JohnSquared #Because it is interesting that Segundus was allowed to not sign the agreement when Childermass MUST HAVE KNOWN that he was the only man #in the York Society who might actually do practical magic someday #(Probably it's not as black and white as that but let's say so for our purposes here)#It certainly wasn't Norrell who agreed to let Segundus go - it was definitely Childermass' decision #And in the chapter called Starecross Childermass says “I turned a blind eye” - not “we” or “Mr Norrell” - but “I”; he's been watching #It seems to me that he is been protecting Mr Segundus from Mr Norrell for years - in little ways here and there #Mostly just by making sure Segundus didn't come to Norrell's attention #And then he expresses his regret that the school cannot be!#That's at least a halfpennyworth of pity Sir! You're not supposed to have that for adult or child!#I guess he has pity for baby birds #But they do have that thing in common (along with Vinculus) that they have an affinity for magic #But Childermass has access to the library at Hurtfew while Segundus and Vinculus only get scraps #And Childermass is allowed to do magic while the other two have to wait for the Return before they can control it #And I figure that maybe he can find in himself a little bit of pity for someone in that familiar situation #Not to mention that - being mostly a good man - Childermass is not immune - I think - to Segundus' kind and gentle nature #JohnSquared #Btw I haven't completed my current reread so apologies if I've forgotten something or gotten something wrong #You see how the details disappear towards the end :P #I also owe some of this to the Tor.com reread of JSAMN which is worth checking out for some great observations!

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